Salifou has made just seven starts and six substitute appearances for the claret and blues since being signed by Martin O’Neill in August 2007.

The 27-year-old Togo international failed to start a single Premier League game and last played in the ill-fated UEFA Cup exit at CSKA Moscow more than two years ago. Osbourne has only made three starts and four substitute appearances in the UEFA Cup and League Cup since signing a three-year contract in September 2008.

His last involvement was as an 86th minute sub in the 1-1 Europa League draw at Rapid Vienna in August last year and he has spent long periods out on loan.

Both Salifou and Osbourne were below Stiliyan Petrov, Nigel Reo-Coker, Jean Makoun, Fabian Delph, Robert Pires, Stephen Ireland, Barry Bannan and Jonathan Hogg in the midfield pecking order last term.

“It’s been very competitive here,” said McAllister.

“We’ve got a lot of midfield players and there’s always going to be players pushed out.

“The way it’s gone, Moustapha Salifou’s not had a great deal of chances, to be perfectly honest.

“But he’s worked away and unfortunately it’s not worked for him.

“We’ve got a lot of midfield players of that ilk and you can’t play them all.

“It’s the same for Isaiah Osbourne.”

McAllister insists that both players have the quality and the desire to rebuild their football careers and play regularly away from Villa Park.

Salifou, who was signed from Swiss outfit FC Wil for an undisclosed fee, is likely to return to the continent, while academy graduate Osbourne is expected to find a Championship club.

“The thing is with them, I’ve sat and had chats with the pair of them and we’ll do everything we possibly can to help them move on with their lives and their careers,” said McAllister.

“We’ll do anything they need with a CV because we can’t fault their effort and the type of people they are. So anything we can do for them, we’ll gladly do it.’’